Steel tape brake



Feb. 12, 1935. E, STEWART STEEL TAPE BRAKE Filed May 24, 1934 gmmrm EL. 522

imo w I UNITED STATE Patented Feb. 12, 1935 STEEL APE BRAKE Emmitt 1L. Stewart, Oklahoma-City, Okla. Application May 24-, 1934, Serial No. 727.371 4 Claims. (01. 242- 841;) 1

This invention relates to the class of measuring tapes and while it is applicable to all types of tapes, is designed primarily for use in connection. with steel tapesof the character de- 5- signed for measuring the depth of liquids in storage tanks for the purpose of determining the quantity of the same.

The primary object. of the present is to provide a novel'means paying out of steel tape from the reel, in association with which the present invention f or controlling the the tapes device is designed for use, usually being unwound by means of a weight attached to the thereof.

free end Another object of the invention is to provide a braking device for use upon wound steel tapes, which is readily controlled by the thumb of the hand in which the tape is being held while it is being unwound for use.

At present, wound steel tapes are which are mounted upon carrying which are unwound for introduction age tanks or similar receptacles for provided handles, into stordetermining the quantity of liquid in the tank, the free end of the tape having a tached thereto to cause the tape to weight or plumb atunwind freely. The present practice is to control the unwinding of. the tape by the application of the thumb to the reel and because of the fact that the tape is of thin steel, this'practice frequently results in severe cuts to the user of The present invention is designed to the tape. overcome this difiiculty by the mounting of a braking deof the tape, which 7 vice upon the carrying frame tape and is constantly resiliently applied to the which has an extension upon which the thumb of the hand holding the frame may be placed so as to shift the portion which normally contacts the tape, to allow the tape freely.

to unroll I The invention will be best understood from a consideration of the fo-llowingdetailed description taken in connection with the ac companying drawing forming part of this specification, with the understanding, however, that the invention is not confined to any strict c onformity with the showing of the drawing but 'may be changed or modified so long as such changes or modifications mark no material departure from the salient features of the invention as expressed in the appended claims.

In the drawing: Figure 1 is a view partly in section of partly in side elevation and a steel tape holdershowing the application of the present invention thereto.

Figure 2 is a sectional view taken on t e line 2-2 of Figure 1. I 3

Referring tothe drawing wherein like nu-a.

merals of reference designate corresponding parts throughout the views, the, numeral 1- indie Gates a frame O the type in which is mounted the steel gauge line or tape which-is here indie,

cated by the numeral 2. These tapes are; marketed by steel tool manufacturers and. while there are a variety of forms, the present illus:- tration shows-one form or variety which is commonly used. This tape is woundlup in; the frame 1 upona shaft. 3 by means of a foldable handle 4 and the frame atone side has: attached thereto the carrying handle 5 by. which the device is held while the tape is being unwound or wound up.

The numeral 6 indicates an arcuate steel'arm which is secured at one end between the end of the handle 5 and the frame 1 and which curves partway around the tape, terminating in the angular extension 7 which is disposed in a line substantially at right angles to the line of the handle 5 and'substantially radially of thereel. This angular extension carries a centrally slotted wiper element 8 through which the tape 2 passes and by which the liquid is wiped from the tape as the latter is wound up. This wiper and supporting means therefor constitutes the subject-matter for my copending application, Ser. No. 714,707, filed March 8, 1934. I

In carrying out the present invention, the arm6, which in the copending application referred to, serves the solitary purpose of supporting the wiper 8, is also employed as aSupporting means for the brake element. The

inner or concavesurface of the arm is provided with the spaced ears 9 which may be formed integral with the side edges of the arm and turned inwardly to spaced parallel relation in the manner illustrated. Disposed to extend through the frame 1 between the arm 6 and the reel 2, is the fiat oscillatable arm 10 which positions between the ears 9 and which has extending from its opposite edges the trunnions or pivot pins 11 which are mounted in the ears in the manner illustrated. The upper end of this arm is bent to form the thumb portion 12 which is disposed substantially parallel with and overlies the handle 5. At its opposite end beyond the trunnions 11, the oscillatable arm 10 arm 6 is an expansion coil spring 15 which, by its tendency to expand and because of its engagement at one end with the fixed arm 6, and at its other end with the wing nut 14, tends to draw the lower end of the oscillatable arm 10 in toward the fixed arm.

Attached to the forward face of the oscillatable arm 10 above the trunnions 11 is a fiber brake shoe 16, which is so arranged that when the oscillatable arm is shifted by the spring 15, it will be brought into contact with the steel tape 2.

From the foregoing, it will be readily apparent that any tendency of the tape to unwind is constantly opposed by the brake mechanism which is under the control of the spring 15.

When the tape is to be unwoundor paid out, the operator depresses the laterally extending portion 12 of the oscillatable arm, thereby retracting the shoe 16 and thus freeing the tape for unwinding.

What is claimed is:-

1. In a steel tape having a frame and handle connected therewith, an arm secured to the frame, a second arm oscillatably mounted upon the first arm, friction means carried by the second arm for contact with the tape, means for oscillating the arm to remove the friction means from the tape, and resilient means normally urging the second arm to oscillate in a direction to bring thefriction means against the tape.

2. In a steel tape, a frame, a handle attached to theframe, an arm fixed to a portion of the device, asecond arm disposed between the fixed arm and the tape and oscillatably mounted upon the fixed arm, said second arm having a laterally directed portion overlying said handle, a friction body carried by the second arm for contact with the tape, and resilient means in engagement with and normally urging the second arm to oscillate in a direction to bring the friction means into contact with the tape.

3. In a measuring tape structure including a frame, a handle, and a measuring tape wound up in the frame, an arm secured rigidly to the device, a pair of spaced ears carried by said arm, a second arm disposed between the tape and the first arm and oscillatably mounted between said ears, said second arm having a laterally extending terminal portion overlying said handle, a pin secured at one end to the oscillatable arm and passing through the fixed arm and having a body attached to its other end, a spring surrounding said pin between said body and the fixed arm and normally tending to oscillate the second arm, and a friction body carried by the second arm in position for contact with the tape.

4. In a device of the character described, a rectangular frame, a steel tape wound within the frame, a handle carried by the frame, an arm extending through the frame and mounted for oscillation therein relative to the tape, means forming the continuation at one end of the arm and overlying the handle for facilitating the oscillation of the arm, and resilient means normally urging said arm toward the tape.

EMMITT L. STEWART. 

